tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78326429870649412722024-03-14T03:40:44.466-07:00cutting the FringeLOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-66660550273248285202009-09-24T12:18:00.000-07:002009-09-24T13:41:31.729-07:00NEW BLOG<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHsu5GALOuWYcI0Ky1xNoWdqt_LRqwx7BJIDYxIQPpbIluCnBqB6sZiO4gWiNDAbraEMCINHl0j4NKknJ36su63PQDntNjWDhI-igNTLs3SBFysfuEOq6ax1jnYjIsJVqF1iAB54TmAO7/s1600-h/aaah.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385136854833043666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 48px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHsu5GALOuWYcI0Ky1xNoWdqt_LRqwx7BJIDYxIQPpbIluCnBqB6sZiO4gWiNDAbraEMCINHl0j4NKknJ36su63PQDntNjWDhI-igNTLs3SBFysfuEOq6ax1jnYjIsJVqF1iAB54TmAO7/s320/aaah.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Back in the capital, and I'm covering London arts <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">focusing</span> on new writing in off-West End theatres, as well as splashes of comedy, music, TV and other entertainment...<br /><br />So I won't be writing on here, but visit my new blog <a href="http://www.upstagewrite.blogspot.com/">http://www.upstagewrite.blogspot.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-78751327672115895482009-08-25T05:55:00.000-07:002009-08-25T05:57:09.380-07:00Review: Lady Carol: Tomorrow is My Turn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8YK0clp5YHx7fHcnuqjnqKVET7U1GX4-Inick6VfqQl5HfDGnKDu4VM4e5KQRBt8Q-JffKFnnZky3rHPiidJQqI7ocFlhexI2NEvSO4loQ4d3HeM7lbWPKwSz_vGB4cCXbs6BYEWp8HM/s1600-h/ladyc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373884572495672738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8YK0clp5YHx7fHcnuqjnqKVET7U1GX4-Inick6VfqQl5HfDGnKDu4VM4e5KQRBt8Q-JffKFnnZky3rHPiidJQqI7ocFlhexI2NEvSO4loQ4d3HeM7lbWPKwSz_vGB4cCXbs6BYEWp8HM/s320/ladyc.jpg" border="0" /></a>It definitely is the lovely Lady Carol's turn this year, see <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8551/Review-Lady_Carol_Tomorrow_is_My_Turn.html">my review.</a>LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-38075522283675429332009-08-25T05:50:00.000-07:002009-08-25T05:54:34.760-07:00Review: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhH0nQbv6yMy1H4IItOG_gl8NXxDbOgDK_8mRIpt4yiCWaY1yNxlzu0Cg9v9GjeHgnaeOGg0UxAfvToL3nPIWNZlVqwvgsAAFMB-ZeSySGU8xYY0bTc_onRSK8ypjkq_jZNtGx4sa3NrE/s1600-h/show.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373883703717157970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhH0nQbv6yMy1H4IItOG_gl8NXxDbOgDK_8mRIpt4yiCWaY1yNxlzu0Cg9v9GjeHgnaeOGg0UxAfvToL3nPIWNZlVqwvgsAAFMB-ZeSySGU8xYY0bTc_onRSK8ypjkq_jZNtGx4sa3NrE/s320/show.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8552/Review-Showstopper_The_Improvised_Musical_Edinburgh_2009.html">Time Out blog update</a>: 5* to Showstopper, which was brilliant for the second year running! Especially Ruth Bratt on the left.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-42987620952770338172009-08-23T15:28:00.000-07:002009-08-23T15:32:15.100-07:00Review: Doctor Faustus x 4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNZiplbNOEZQYqKs0jiisoqtTe9XIqOKkw6pSj8kchRfrTJx8V39bZX55tXTBV9GrxbxvRuVEaxP0-sXiDlLv40333w8Re1M1jTJAQt6DMJbRlLtfCR-FDZgJ5gZ_Zal909-LsBVLQwTs/s1600-h/buzz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373290406366163250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNZiplbNOEZQYqKs0jiisoqtTe9XIqOKkw6pSj8kchRfrTJx8V39bZX55tXTBV9GrxbxvRuVEaxP0-sXiDlLv40333w8Re1M1jTJAQt6DMJbRlLtfCR-FDZgJ5gZ_Zal909-LsBVLQwTs/s320/buzz.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yours truely watched four productions of Doctor Faustus at the fringe (well, one was Faust), sorting the wheat from the chaff so you didn't have to. The result is in <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/festivals-2009/The-devil39s-in-the-detail.5575205.jp">The Scotsman</a>.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-34585879205838651752009-08-23T15:23:00.000-07:002009-08-23T15:28:00.386-07:00Review: Greg Behrendt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMGbr5yHEGUSD0IBuAHvmDVMZhrAUlGO_GEYS8hjA7XVPH9iRBziekh9tsCgReo4xkKHNmQnR1DvY9iY8ht31bkMQClUbTQ7n_Yx_XN40h-jqMVyGU92gGKE83etJ14QP5xzY0xDwQsBk/s1600-h/not.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373289432193788434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMGbr5yHEGUSD0IBuAHvmDVMZhrAUlGO_GEYS8hjA7XVPH9iRBziekh9tsCgReo4xkKHNmQnR1DvY9iY8ht31bkMQClUbTQ7n_Yx_XN40h-jqMVyGU92gGKE83etJ14QP5xzY0xDwQsBk/s320/not.jpg" border="0" /></a>The guy who wrote He's Just Not That Into You is a stand-up comic? 'No!' I hear you cry, but yes, so it is. And I saw him in the flesh. Check out my <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8511/Review-Greg_Behrendt.html">Time Out review</a> to see if he's any good.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-71448815653420135282009-08-23T15:20:00.000-07:002009-08-23T15:23:09.536-07:00Review: Andrew Maxwell - The Lamp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBtEah0cIyk28JqGVmbloCwW-0wDUbjVyDYRPD8d5FotlnoEN4YX1c9YPW9Pc5Y9QDHmUnLfjWYiCh9Hmo4LxrwT4DVIThBwMHcxZHoFZ35lScRBkXxqkv3hHkz1Eh2bGUkc-KqsBGiH6/s1600-h/andrew.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373288167816355954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBtEah0cIyk28JqGVmbloCwW-0wDUbjVyDYRPD8d5FotlnoEN4YX1c9YPW9Pc5Y9QDHmUnLfjWYiCh9Hmo4LxrwT4DVIThBwMHcxZHoFZ35lScRBkXxqkv3hHkz1Eh2bGUkc-KqsBGiH6/s320/andrew.jpg" border="0" /></a>Andrew Maxwell has been known to divide opinion - in my <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8509/Review-Andrew_Maxwell_The_Lamp.html">Time Out review</a> I thought he knew exactly what he was doing, and did it brilliantly.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-90304024563227253422009-08-23T15:15:00.000-07:002009-08-23T15:20:28.944-07:00Review: Comedy Bitch<a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8505/Review-Comedy_Bitch.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373287525521166866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-Y8t9U1WQ5nN-n-HZyH84sO8r3k87d2_9IzUvZP5tYuhDDeEm1IC2jts0OI2BAkzXEL36LevxOq4hwj1f_sGenDq6_yE5YZEVQUVErLzKFCkQs7dwteaRvPTEd7h3JI6oCD6NcQumdyp/s320/comedy.jpg" border="0" /></a> Despite the gory poster, Comedy Bitch bring quality, polished new sketch comedy at the fringe. Here's <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8505/Review-Comedy_Bitch.html">my Time Out review</a>.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-18927435881318974792009-08-12T03:11:00.000-07:002009-08-12T03:27:44.764-07:00100 followers and a plug for a dance show starting today<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn6XSZv23Iy2-g3C-dG56zn78Ey2jHb7GTk2jzLzvJX8nqZmbNYZN8zj5YfJsZGryXMOvBqFHCYqbaW6XtF63Z2Sbwl5KMChOSMAqIGpoxDYs35GlQJhnUtyVxkM-w2zzFGcl5wszfLrE/s1600-h/tweethat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369019869243497506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn6XSZv23Iy2-g3C-dG56zn78Ey2jHb7GTk2jzLzvJX8nqZmbNYZN8zj5YfJsZGryXMOvBqFHCYqbaW6XtF63Z2Sbwl5KMChOSMAqIGpoxDYs35GlQJhnUtyVxkM-w2zzFGcl5wszfLrE/s200/tweethat.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hurrah, after only recently joining I have 100 followers on Twitter! How very exciting. It's a great thing - those of you not on it, do it. I said I'd give my 100th follower a little space on my blog so here it is:<br /><br /><a class="screen-name" title="Stephen Clapp" href="http://twitter.com/stephenclapp">stephenclapp</a> is one half of the dance duo <a href="http://www.dancenow.org/">Dance Now DC</a> whose performances are driven by a strong sense of social responsibility.<br /><br />He'd like me to write about the Booking Dance Festival on the huge stage at Venue 150, 12-16 Aug 15.30.<br /><br />It's only on for one week starting <strong>today</strong>, and features 7 diverse US dance companies.<br /><br />The pictures look beautiful and really varied! Check out more <a href="http://www.bookingdance.com/festivals_edinburgh.html">here</a>.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-47574786326246951802009-08-11T14:59:00.000-07:002009-08-11T15:01:59.513-07:00Sammy J: 1999<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8fmB581mu40kAyeOkWQYaxXqa2MmQlD2NFyilrKUz5f8XIcKks3PC1mZIAOqniMU3OZPIlG_T0tXin6LEQyv9hs8_1vg_PtqOoVhefFkKiSH2cD0dvt9oZaPgUWbTqgdDixdjnlG9Dzr/s1600-h/sammy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368829793264606978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8fmB581mu40kAyeOkWQYaxXqa2MmQlD2NFyilrKUz5f8XIcKks3PC1mZIAOqniMU3OZPIlG_T0tXin6LEQyv9hs8_1vg_PtqOoVhefFkKiSH2cD0dvt9oZaPgUWbTqgdDixdjnlG9Dzr/s200/sammy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="left"></p><div>Sammy J gets personal in his new show, 1999. See <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8393/Review-Sammy_J_1999.html">my Time Out review</a>!</div>LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-32054762654637627252009-08-10T03:33:00.000-07:002009-08-10T03:40:33.448-07:00Richard Herring: Hitler MoustacheHold onto your moustaches, here's my <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8385/Review-Richard_Herring_Hitler_Moustache.html">Time Out review</a> of Richard Herring's brand new Edinburgh show (yes, that one with all the Guardian controversy)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTarVUiw9cOYsEx5Lt9-PqKjjtI4kOfvkQG2Iez8r5SST24p1vTpFhzfNE7jHRQenVv1CZCeB3V2ra4c_CO7t0up_OSU_dRb_HvS6eC8OhpvnW-YP2m5_XpfNPid-W0yF7eow0shbteMDD/s1600-h/hitler.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368282466810896386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTarVUiw9cOYsEx5Lt9-PqKjjtI4kOfvkQG2Iez8r5SST24p1vTpFhzfNE7jHRQenVv1CZCeB3V2ra4c_CO7t0up_OSU_dRb_HvS6eC8OhpvnW-YP2m5_XpfNPid-W0yF7eow0shbteMDD/s320/hitler.jpg" border="0" /></a> Herring's show is brilliant, though perhaps less inventive than I thought, having discovered <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/11/cohen200711">this Vanity Fair article</a> from 2007. Uncanny similarities, great idea though!LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-63916003449031527852009-08-08T16:27:00.001-07:002009-08-08T16:30:35.756-07:00Rob Rouse: My Family...and the Dog that Scared Jesus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi-YK6arFGKsbr1gkqTXyPlWzLmbP-E1TiqquHs2DY9KRAOGVnCs3GNnwMtWloW8dWbfFHeeBndtTRkkNxJ8q8xqr7KFepbe16nZLhKtKvEqPzXAogNK6pId0s4poKwTs-mlAk0H0pglP/s1600-h/rob+rouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367739118651847202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi-YK6arFGKsbr1gkqTXyPlWzLmbP-E1TiqquHs2DY9KRAOGVnCs3GNnwMtWloW8dWbfFHeeBndtTRkkNxJ8q8xqr7KFepbe16nZLhKtKvEqPzXAogNK6pId0s4poKwTs-mlAk0H0pglP/s320/rob+rouse.jpg" border="0" /></a> Read my <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8375/Review-Rob_Rouse-My_Family_and_the_Dog_That_Scared_Jesus.html">Time Out review #2</a>, of Rob Rouse: My family... and the Dog that Scared Jesus.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-58762088049811267692009-08-07T16:57:00.000-07:002009-08-07T17:02:08.164-07:00Paul Zerdin: Spongefest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7z-Q5vk4fR7kWys1nbgF6ECwlnul3SjlWwgJq7yI-D6eIM6_rtHCDwEyW4R856iAkI8Khu8GDbwYSDyu0CnVHbf303FKGgNHkWg2V72A__dBSTleY-IkWRJa4dRCEjgZg4cEHi0taIXX/s1600-h/sam.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367376296161757362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 234px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7z-Q5vk4fR7kWys1nbgF6ECwlnul3SjlWwgJq7yI-D6eIM6_rtHCDwEyW4R856iAkI8Khu8GDbwYSDyu0CnVHbf303FKGgNHkWg2V72A__dBSTleY-IkWRJa4dRCEjgZg4cEHi0taIXX/s320/sam.gif" border="0" /></a><br />My first <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/blog/8374/Review-Paul_Zerdin-Sponge_Fest.html">Time Out review</a>, of the multitalented Mr Zerdin and his assorted sponges, is online for your delectation.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-997478958983298682009-08-07T16:49:00.000-07:002009-08-07T17:34:09.905-07:00Honourable mentions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UP3FQZx4C74L4ekMEHrWzsR0l6fPYtrZSJxb1Ak8M8HvtstU8M7zIhcJm3gCmJ9PaK_jT6IhfeeRsCZvWqLRdWk0JwOLoiCnFooYeHWUpqVj_sDzuMaeiJHJq6EzLm5NZ7f-OSy7B0JP/s1600-h/thhumbs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367384694785009954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UP3FQZx4C74L4ekMEHrWzsR0l6fPYtrZSJxb1Ak8M8HvtstU8M7zIhcJm3gCmJ9PaK_jT6IhfeeRsCZvWqLRdWk0JwOLoiCnFooYeHWUpqVj_sDzuMaeiJHJq6EzLm5NZ7f-OSy7B0JP/s200/thhumbs.jpg" border="0" /></a>Corinne Furness at the lovely WhatsOnStage has mentioned me as an <a href="http://www.whatsonstage.com/features/theatre/london/E8831249645778/Best+of+This+Week">Edinburgh blog of the week</a> for my <a href="http://cuttingthefringe.blogspot.com/2009/08/get-that-in-your-belly.html">Get that in your belly</a> post.<br /><br />Extra momentum to keep blogging through the madness two jobs at the festival!<br /><br />Thanks WhatsOnStage!LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-53325453461853432252009-08-05T12:58:00.000-07:002009-08-05T14:36:29.516-07:00Get that in your bellyTonight's Underbelly press launch took over the Udderbelly (or for the more literally-minded, the big purple cow).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366582047728869042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ004vgRUiBhhuYyoZGwnCH88fCgkGP_3X4XB2qcTgidiTjreKIslX_AOvmaS0RR1nq_nGnwy8neoqxM4NyN0dDK1rV4cq-o-SH8kcX3e6rRf7D0Iks_90vCfOqNYOwXdDLaBNAiTZlq0O/s320/udderbelly.jpg" border="0" />Do we ever consider her, this purple beast who sleeps upside-down among us? She has needs, and wants; her belly too must be filled.<br /><br />Perhaps we can imagine tonight’s acts as food inside her majestic stomachs... what would be her dish of choice?<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em>Udderbelly's dinner menu</em></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366582513224560690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 81px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 110px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVDPIoKItjfgnPGZh98A7Z8hoG61l2zy6TxF4O8ht6DiJeiHb64vNkIFBoixDAps8mji8ANXT8SMZqfT3vnVpENkDIqaIprTkPSkSRQKYmvE_RwIV-eRRSZqbYfFQJNLEyKJNdTOHgFoV/s200/menu.jpg" border="0" /><em>Denise van Outen </em>- A carrot cake with lashings of icing and tiny marzipan carrots; surprisingly tasty but a little over the top.<br /><br /><em>Pythonesque</em> - An English muffin that might be going a tad stale. Though they state a desire to to avoid purely imitating Cleese's cult sketch troop, it's unclear how they'll manage to break away from the inevitable comparisons. Reworking rather than repeating Python may be a challenge to maintain for a full length show, even with the readymade following.<br /><br /><em>Tom Tom Crew</em> - A huge juicy steak (and chips); a meaty treat to be savoured. The chips are the impressive acrobatics, but the main attraction (the steak - work with my food metaphors here) is Peeping Tom's astounding beat boxing.<br /><br /><em>Carl Donnelly</em> - A chunky soup; you're uncertain at first if you should use a spoon or a fork. But it turns out to be pretty hearty (one of those Covent Garden fresh ones perhaps) with a satifying aftertaste - Donnelly apologised for ending on "talking" rather than a joke, thereby creating a joke to end on and... you get the picture.<br /><br /><em>Comedy Bitch</em> - Avocado and fish fingers (I witnessed someone eat this curious combination yesterday.) Two pretty different sketches, the strongest being the 'Mime School.' Like the avo-fingers combo, with the addition of a few more things in their full length show they should serve up a quirky treat.<br /><br /><em>Pete Firman</em> - A lovely cupcake that you reach for... but wait, it's gone! Oh no, there it is, inexplicably balancing on the tip of someone's nose as part of one of Firman's seriously palatable magic tricks. The cherry on top is that he's funny, too.<br /><br /><em>Frisky and Mannish</em> - A fabulous cherry pie, tangy and delicious as they waft their saucy but often refreshingly subtle take on pop songs under our noses.<br /><br /><em>The Dark Party</em> - Slightly inexplicable as the final act, like cauliflower cheese for dessert. And like cauliflower cheese on its own, these three sombre clowns have an act that is solid, but their endurance and physical theatre needed more substance to be served up singularly, let alone last.<br /><br /><strong><em>Udderbelly's big dinner decision</em></strong><br />So what should we recommend to our big purple dinner from the menu?<br /><br />For mains there’s really no other choice but steak (Tom Tom Crew), followed by cherry pie (Frisky and Mannish) or perhaps a cupcake (Pete Firman)... if it isn’t magiced away under her nose.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-41717563084818877322009-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:002009-08-02T15:37:23.979-07:00Come, hear this amazing secret truth ...Sad news Fringegoers, the eccentric and altogether brilliant Mr <a href="http://louise86.blogspot.com/2008/09/feature-lord-of-dancewith-bells-on.html">Tim FitzHigham's </a>solo show has been cancelled. It would without doubt have been one of the maddest things on this year's Fringe.<br /><br />My foraging as to why this is hasn't yet produced any results, so as far as I know we can still see him singing this year in <a href="http://www.edfringe.com/ticketing/detail.php?id=15081">Flanders and Swann: A Brand GNew AfterGNoon </a>and more than likely with Andrew Maxwell's troop the <a href="http://www.underbelly.co.uk/webpages/edinburgh/edinburgh-show.php?id=61:189">Full Mooners </a>(I'm not sure how it would function without Tim, being, as he is, the Concierge of the Moon.)<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365496441564458530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4Mh5y6F8dO3aXuVvj17MYL5kbTqyXJJ1wIRWWFvNOJ0B1F1-I0iXKXmUrAMWWV-b3317L6P5izZEBNO21t6oTtGsk9_vb8IlCyMQrJTBjRWNjlf53Lvz79yJwS5PL3a-LAMQgtM6CjnL/s320/mooners.jpg" border="0" />The mechanics of a FitzHigham show are threefold:<br /><br />1) Tim embarks on some sort of low-energy activity. The selection criteria tends to involve the activity being impossible, painful or just plain inconprehensible (more of a quest, then, really.) Past adventures have included trying to get a Knighthood in Spain, investigating the Karma Sutra and breaking the record distance for rowing in a paper boat.<br /><br />2) Tim (often only just) recovers from said task.<br /><br />3) Tim surfaces in Edinburgh and tells the story of said task, to comic effect.<br /><br />The show that is not to be was called Last Queen of Scotland, and promised <em>"an incredible discovery about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the last true Queen of Scotland."</em> Having seen Tim's show The Bard's Fool last year, it's highly likely he has discovered some historical titbit that will make us see The Young Pretender with new eyes, and reveal that he was in fact not a prince at all, but a young cabin boy called Terence (it always seems to come back to the sea after Tim's trip across the channel in a bathtub.) </p><p>The programme advert for Last Queen of Scotland beckons us to <em>"Come, hear this amazing secret truth ..."</em>, but it seems we'll have to wait a while.<br /><br />There's something special about Tim, he commits to his comedy in a way best described as <em>dogged</em>. The first time I met him in a pub in Soho, he'd lost most of the skin on one foot, as well as a toenail, in the name of laughter. Understandable really, as he'd just morris danced from London to Norwich in nine days straight, beating the record set by Shakespeare's clown Will Kemp, who made a similar journey back when Queen Elizabeth I, not II, was on the English throne. </p><p>In all probability, Tim is only the second person to attempt this dance epic, but as Kemp took nine days spread over several <em>weeks </em>rather than consecutively<em>, </em>it's fair to say Tim can be proud of his title in morris-enabled-travel.<br /><br />My <a href="http://louise86.blogspot.com/2008/09/feature-lord-of-dancewith-bells-on.html">interview with Tim </a>for Three Weeks last year was a pleasure, and as a few less of you may see him now that Last Queen of Scotland is cancelled, here is a Full Mooner's video from last year for your delectation:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z92a6ZrELMQ&hl=" width="445" height="364" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" color2="0x9461ca&border=" fs="1&color1="></embed><br /></p>LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-7508984105446208962009-08-01T09:24:00.000-07:002009-08-11T14:55:57.204-07:00Over to the dark side (at last)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuSfMopWyb_-CGsGtKJstT7glFMs83dpz9O9VYFWdhjXhyvKaZyA2Syp0_lwsOgmAWhX4A9347_7vNJP4W7RXY__eSZUmKLlAFpbYXqqmKp_8DT4zMuL_EFowhM-GzUv-NjxOcEvENXAi/s1600-h/camille+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365040033789224146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuSfMopWyb_-CGsGtKJstT7glFMs83dpz9O9VYFWdhjXhyvKaZyA2Syp0_lwsOgmAWhX4A9347_7vNJP4W7RXY__eSZUmKLlAFpbYXqqmKp_8DT4zMuL_EFowhM-GzUv-NjxOcEvENXAi/s320/camille+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> There’s something a bit magical about getting your hands on your first Fringe ticket of the year.<br /><br />I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ve</span> just booked to see <a href="http://www.camilleosullivan.com/home.html">Camille O’Sullivan</a>, exchanging that pesky online booking fee for a much more enjoyable stroll down the Royal Mile - which is already heaving - to the Fringe office.<br /><div><br /></div><div>A wedding party leaving <a href="http://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/">St Giles’s Cathedral </a>received the same treatment from the crowds as the street theatre nearby, save the odd spectator throwing a pound at the bride and groom.<br /><br />The couple <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didn</span>’t seem to mind - if you get married on the Royal Mile in (almost) festival time you must expect a little extra attention. Some people taking photos and gathering around may have, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">forgivably</span>, thought it <em>was</em> some uncannily realistic performance. It’s one of the upside-down realities of the festival that most interactions are dramatic, most characters you meet are just that, and anything that seems mundane is more than likely the next big thing in realist theatre.<br /><br />I wanted to see Camille last year, having first heard her sultry vocals in the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413015/"><em>Mrs Henderson Presents</em></a> in 2005<em>.</em> Sadly though, her run of The Dark Angel at the now deceased (in Edinburgh) <a href="http://www.spiegeltent.net/index.php?sectionID=4633&pageID=4637"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Spiegeltent</span> </a>was sold out.<br /><br />The French-Irish songstress’s return to London’s <em>La Clique</em> last December cemented her already striking presence on the UK and Ireland's stages. The tendency of the press to associate her with burlesque, which is undeniably hot at the moment, may have gained her extra attention, but Camille herself rejects this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">categorisation</span>. From clips I've seen she is outside of any real style. Camille is one of few female singers who are recognised on a first-name basis at the Fringe.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrLnJVae8EGYfrwWeFTtR4t1DqWWIdAfwlsr7iKFqCvlWKwxMFUi08_-9SAnYG9rpCy7TCcva84CDeYQtsd8MiLvDpOmlrB_0ws3r-VOe-ZD9Uqi8UH3_u2ORbwzjBeAWarBOPKCkr4_J/s1600-h/camillie2.jpg"></a>The reviews have frothed and the features gushed; she is more than a few steps down the path to iconography, and when she arrives there any unsavoury reviews will trickle off her impermeable image.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365053193445758034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdX5Zm_Ldw3b8KWlfkZEM8pP91DyYhknaIc5TfLiUVLI49mGdcoJxMMKZBMsr259uYDRLanm2C9vVJsYA5sKTPFM-BXHQiHq4fZXwX4-7Rogt0SV46Pco-HYuKRXt0ndiDdyTdHbF-B41/s320/camillie2.jpg" border="0" />One frankly beautiful quote from Dominic Cavendish's <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3557992/Edinburgh-Festival-embracing-the-dark-side.html">Daily Telegraph review</a> last year stays in my mind: <em>When she sings it's as though her breath is soaked in paraffin; one spark, and the whole room would ignite." </em><br /><br />I look forward to being seduced.LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7832642987064941272.post-60369156948735123612009-07-22T14:43:00.000-07:002009-08-01T11:58:05.154-07:00REVIEW: Kevin Bridges and Wilson Dixon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg_xffT4Hdaa4CtPfrgwMYxlEFeOjDAncirZvQXkELxvq4mdUlPMR6tRyuzGR6DaROfGoaRHP2OQeWqA04apymmfe1nTzX20EJbDaBZQs-0MgKiTmZG6KvUkm7EQlRw4CKCy6jtfKhuCu/s1600-h/wislon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365050796647091586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 314px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg_xffT4Hdaa4CtPfrgwMYxlEFeOjDAncirZvQXkELxvq4mdUlPMR6tRyuzGR6DaROfGoaRHP2OQeWqA04apymmfe1nTzX20EJbDaBZQs-0MgKiTmZG6KvUkm7EQlRw4CKCy6jtfKhuCu/s320/wislon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Edinburgh previews, </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/fallingdownwithlaughter"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Falling Down With Laughter </span></em></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>@ Belushi’s, Borough High Street, London, Tues 21 July 2009, 8.30pm</em><br /></span><br />Nothing too surprising from affable Scot <strong><a href="http://www.chortle.co.uk/comics/k/206/kevin_bridges">Kevin Bridges</a></strong>. In an enjoyable set he took on terrorism, paedophiles, and, of course, the troubles of Glasgow. He pulled out some smart gags with wry delivery, especially a line about council swimming pools which was set up brilliantly.<br /><br />His low-energy style was relaxing, but he was in danger of losing our attention when the sometimes predictable material didn’t hit the mark, dissolving into cynical rambling. Rapport with the audience was good (he anxiously noted the high presence of those working in TV) but he sometimes began to lose the focus of the banter he initiated - I think we’ll see more of the flashes of angry and assured wit which demonstrated his capability when Bridges finds his feet in Edinburgh.<br /><br />Second act <strong><a href="http://www.wilsondixon.com/">Wilson Dixon</a> </strong>is a construction of genius: I knew what to expect and wasn’t disappointed when he sauntered on in his already amusing Stetson and wig. Dixon’s <a href="http://www.wilsondixon.com/about.htm">Country & Western persona</a> is the foundation for his beautifully crafted songs, in the vein of Flight of the Concords. His soft country drawl introduced us to the theme of his Edinburgh run this year; the American Dream.<br /><br />Some numbers weren’t as strong as his stock material, but even they caused us to forget the sweltering heat in Belushi’s basement. A highlight that still makes me chuckle was a song about animals which took sayings about our furry companions literally (“Can you imagine being caught in a shower of dogs? Or standing in a puddle of cats?”) As his masterful wordplay built to a climax, the suppressed laughter was palpable even before he finished each devastatingly astute couplet. His simple formula delivers consistantly, and his full-bodied character allows for forlorn and wistful moments in an affectionate nod to the musical tradition which produced this comic creation.</div>LOUISE RIDLEYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01946969683756076806noreply@blogger.com0